SoundFlow red icon, cannot use macros or editor
System Information
SoundFlow 5.10.1
OS: darwin 24.3.0
ProductName: macOS
ProductVersion: 15.3.2
BuildVersion: 24D81
Steps to Reproduce
- Open SoundFlow
Expected Result
SoundFlow should open and function properly
Actual Result
SoundFlow icon is red, none of my macros function, I cannot open the editor.
Workaround
No, I've tried restarting SoundFlow and my computer, logging out and in, and quitting the app. Nothing has worked yet.
Other Notes
Links
User UID: sxSh3T65XHhrTM77i5g0d0VuEdD2
Feedback Key: sffeedback:sxSh3T65XHhrTM77i5g0d0VuEdD2:-ONeeelnSqqCfvYzHOzc
Feedback ZIP: Vg8xWKAmsppxBdnqQQF3FWMtnRGUi1VQB+xUMgo/hcBq3t1UwCK2y2tWqZh21tZ04nAR/rc7tYXIKgZR6N4BzOeiZBOjSirMs2NqFwxKai0ZefjPEpPoLZ02B1rB7Pv4PqNv2SaOr3BIN7x47g6Qp2YHkUv3J69Z3epwA8Aw5K7lifjsVU8rQCtyxp6ufCyv39HVr1usTpbqLiF9u1NS2ncv4tMupSUYyN1vEvSObV4xVRVO/7SMz4bALcN/CdSh++8L8mtHNPcm2/OXEonHvUKuIBicFJZ/mDIerPGPjJ3McnXwvbAUlXunQxMnFWaRuutLpZ60w/XKafZu6lPlG44B0CekZh/HuE/PleTv/xE=
Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-12 17:59:12.550ZHi, @pepsin,
Starting with macOS Sequoia, SoundFlow requires access to the "Local Network." Can you check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and ensure SoundFlow is enabled in this list?
https://soundflow.org/docs/getting-started/install-soundflow/known-issues#macOS-Sequoia
Let us know if that doesn't help, and we can dig deeper!
Hi Chad, thanks for the quick response!
SoundFlow is enabled in the "Local Network" list within System Settings. I've also tried quitting the app, logging out, and switching users – still no luck.
Let me know what else I can try!
Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-14 12:36:23.054ZThanks for confirming Local Network Access @pepsin!
Let's first start by trying to install the latest version of SoundFlow (SoundFlow 5.10.3) here:
https://soundflow.org/account/install
Looking at your logs, I see there seem to be issues logging in. I'm hoping installing the latest version will get you up and running.
Otherwise, we should also check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files & Folders && System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access and make sure that SoundFlow either has Full Disk Access enabled or there are no "Files & Folders" listed with folders unchecked (which would block access for SoundFlow).
Let me know if one of those troubleshooting steps helps, and we can continue troubleshooting if needed.
Hi @Chad, I haven't been able to install the latest version. When I attempt to open SoundFlow_5.10.3.pkg, I instantly get this error message:
Installer quit unexpectedly.
Click Reopen to open the application again. Click Report to see more detailed information and send a report to Apple.I confirmed SoundFlow has access to Files & Folders, but Full Disk Access was unchecked for some reason! The icon is still red after granting that permission though.
- Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-14 13:35:21.360Z
Hi, @pepsin,
Did you reboot your computer after granting Full Disk Access? A reboot would probably be necessary for that setting to take full effect.
The installer not working is interesting. Let's see if the reboot helps with that as well.
Two other thoughts:
- Are you using a firewall or VPN of any kind? Those are typical causes of connections failing: https://soundflow.org/docs/getting-started/install-soundflow/system-requirements#online
- A next step would be to try resetting all permissions for SoundFlow with the following procedure:
https://soundflow.org/docs/getting-started/install-soundflow/known-issues#reset-all-permissions
Hello, thanks for these suggestions! I did reboot after granting Full Disk Access. The installer is still not working after reboot.
I'm not using a VPN or firewall.
Let me know what else I can try!
- Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-14 14:19:11.687Z
Hi, @pepsin,
We can try having you download the installer for 5.10.2 (or even a clean install of 5.10.1) here:
https://soundflow.org/account/downloadsLet me know if none of the installers are working for you. That may indicate a macOS issue.
Furthermore, if you haven't tried it yet, this reset procedure for resetting all permissions for SoundFlow may be the best bet: https://soundflow.org/docs/getting-started/install-soundflow/known-issues#reset-all-permissions
Thanks for this, @Chad. I completed the reset procedure you linked, but I haven't been able to open any of the installers you mentioned. I will try updating my macOS tonight.
- Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-14 14:46:06.014Z
Hi, @pepsin,
Thanks for trying the reset procedure and the other installers.
Yes, updating the macOS to macOS 15.4 would be the next step I would try.
@chrscheuer, could you look at @pepsin's logs and see if you have any other thoughts?
We have tried:
- Ensuring System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network Access for SoundFlow
- Ensuring System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access for SoundFlow
- Not using any VPN/Firewall
- Permissions reset using our procedure here: https://soundflow.org/docs/getting-started/install-soundflow/known-issues#reset-all-permissions
- Restarting the computer
- Attempted to download other installers for SF 5.10.1, 5.10.2, 5.10.3 - the installers are failing for the user.
From the logs, it looks like the PACE credentials are failing for some reason:
12.04.2025 09:15:24.69 <error> [AppState.AuthService.LoginWindowProvider]: Couldn't read security.json: Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '/Library/Application Support/SoundFlow/v2/security.json' 12.04.2025 09:15:24.74 <info> [BackendConnection]: PACE API: code null 12.04.2025 09:15:24.74 <info> [BackendConnection]: Couldn't start sfbackend because PACE API hasn't loaded yet...
Christian Scheuer @chrscheuer2025-04-18 02:42:38.289ZHi Chad and @pepsin,
The installer crash logs you shared are crashes in the macOS Installer binary itself - not in the SoundFlow package but in the built-in system-provided installer binary.
Interestingly, it's running the installer in x64 mode (Rosetta), not the arm64 code. I have no idea why that would happen, but it would point to something being wrong on the system itself somehow.
Further, it reports this error:
Error Formulating Crash Report: dyld_process_snapshot_get_shared_cache failedWhich further indicates something is wrong on a system-level.
- Christian Scheuer @chrscheuer2025-04-18 02:47:55.089Z
It looks like from the SF log files as if more system-level things are crashing. It almost looks like an OS upgrade gone semi wrong or bugs in macOS.
I'd advise reinstalling the iLok License Manager from ilok.com as a way to make sure the PACE drivers are up to date. And the advice to do an OS update also seems like a good way forward, as it may allow macOS to repair whatever went wrong in the system update.
Hi @chrscheuer, thanks for taking a look. I downloaded the iLok License Support package from the link provided.
I think you're on to something, I've been experiencing some weird symptoms since trying to update to macOS 15.4. I still haven't been able to upgrade successfully, I keep getting crash reports with errors like this:
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0): t6000dart ... (dart-dispext0): Can't ignore lock validation @t6000dart.c:437It seems like there a plenty of Mac users running into issues with this Sequoia installer, here's an Apple forum post with some examples: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256030216?sortBy=rank&page=1
I guess I'll need to wait until Apple releases another version I can try!
Good news, I was able to successfully install the macOS 15.4.1 update which has solved a lot of issues on my system including the ones I reported here. Thanks for your help, @Chad and @chrscheuer!
- Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-18 21:48:44.984Z
So glad to hear, @pepsin!
- In reply topepsin⬆:Christian Scheuer @chrscheuer2025-04-21 14:53:04.158Z
Awesome! Sorry, I responded to your earlier comment somewhere else in this thread. I'm happy this solved things.
- In reply topepsin⬆:Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-16 13:01:58.866Z
Hi, @pepsin,
Did this get resolved by a macOS Update?
If helpful, I'd be happy to hop on a quick Zoom call to troubleshoot this with you in real time. Reach out to support@soundflow.org, and we can set that up.
Hi @Chad, I haven't been able to update my macOS – it seems like there's a compatibility issue with the installer and M1 Macs. Just sent you an email to set up a Zoom call!
Thanks for your time and talk soon.
- Chad Wahlbrink @Chad2025-04-16 16:17:30.734Z
Thanks, @pepsin,
I've followed up on email. We'll take the conversation from there for now!
- In reply topepsin⬆:Christian Scheuer @chrscheuer2025-04-21 14:52:39.260Z
Hi pepsin,
Just for information: SoundFlow is run on Apple Silicon macs every day across the world - and developed on an M2 Mac by the way :) So it's at least not a general issue with the installer. The issue appears to be specific to your system.
Hi @chrscheuer, thanks for this context. Apologies, I was referring to the macOS Sequoia installer having a compatibility issue with certain Macs – I don't think Soundflow had anything to do with this issue!